Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-11-18
INDUSTRIAL TOPICS.
Farm Hints for October.
ROOT CROPS.

ROOT CROPS.
Potatoes should be dug at once. and
put into the cellar after having been
well dried so that the soil which adj
heres to them will easily rattle oil.
They should be carefully assorted TO
prevent the possibility of any being
| put in VIII ch have commenced TO decay.
as one rotten tuber in the bin or barrel
may be the cause of rOttng many
others around {. Unfortunately, there
seems to be many infected tn $ year.
and no locality and but few fields are
exempt. 1t will be well to save many
of those which have usually been re-
! jected as too small for market, not
only because of the possibility of COM
ing scarcity and consequent high prices.
but because the medium and smaller
sizes do not seem to be SO badly affect
ed with the decay rs are the larger
ones, and il may be that we must de-
pend for our seed another season upon
those which in an ordinary year
would have been fed out to the ami
mails.
Beets and carrots also should be har-
vested soon, though they may seem to
be growing yet They do not bear
freezing ut all, and are injured by
heavy frosts, although they NAV be
partially protected from the first fros.
by their abundant leaves. But they
shold be harvested Immediately if frost
kills those leaves, az the decaying leaf
quickly causes decay of the root if not
removed at once.
Cabbage and turnps are not injured
even by freezing. and may remain un-
ill next month. If the caDbages are so
well headed that there is danger Of
their crack NJ open if allowed TO stand
so long. their growth can be checked
by partially pulling them up and tip
ping them TO one side, SO that only a
few roots viii remain unbroken in tho
sol. This will keep them in better
condition until cold weather than they
would keep in the cellar or pit. 1t is
better TO tip the top toward the north
as otherwise they might be injured by
the sun during the hot days of the "In-
dian summer.
APPLES AND CIDER.
Apples and late pears should be har
vested as quickly as possible They
will keep much better if not too ripe
when taken from the tree, VIII eli is one
reason why Northern-gro fruit keeps
longer than that grown in warmer eli
mates. So much depends upon this
that il two trees of the same variety
are grown, one upon a southern sunny
slope and the other upon the northern
side of the hill or on the north side of
Il barn or other building, it Will be
found that the latter if picked at the
same time. will keep without decay or
loss Of flavor much longer than the
other. The increase IN market value
when fruit is carefully assorted and
put up in clean and n.ce-look .ng boxes
or barrels, instead OF being put in old.
weathcr-stained or dirty barrels. all
sizes together just as they come from
the tree, has been SO pers silently incul-
Gated that one wonders who they can
be who send in such as are occasional
Is seen in our markets, but more fire.
quently in small country markets than
in the larger cities; and we are forced
to the conclusion that there are yet
few farmers who do not read agri-
cultural papers, or strive to keep post
ed in their bus ness.
Those who make cider. even though
Il Is not intended TO be used as bev-
erage. but is 10 be converted into vine
gar, should remember that rotten APP
pies aud filth are not fit even for that
use. and that a selection of sound fruit
for that purpose, and reputation for
cleanliness IN the process of manuiac-
ture, will eventually result in better
pr ces, which will compensate for any
reduction Of the quantity by reason of
the rejection Of decayed or poor fruit.
Use good clean casks. and if they have
stood empty long put cupful of bak-
ing soda and a few quarts of boiling
water into each cask, and thoroughly
rinse the ms de with that. which will
DESTROY any sourneSs or musty flavor
which may be there. Even new liquor
casks will not be hurt 10y this as there
are those who like little good cider as
a med cine or beverage who do not
think it is improved by the flavor of
stronger liquors.
When it is necessary to refill cask
which has been used once for cdcr,
take rag or stick which has been
d pped in melted birthstone and allow
il to burn inside the barrel, so that the
fumes of the burning birthstone may
penetrate TO all parts of the interior.
This may be best accomplished by plac-
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